THE managers of a Birkdale bar have had to stop serving alcohol in their popular outside seating area, after realising it was not covered by their licence.

Alan Turner and Jane Cooper took over the Red Sands bar in July and changed its name to Satchmo’s.

They then discovered the outside pavement area was not licensed for alcohol, although outside drinking had been an established practice.

An application to include the outside seating within the licensed area, where drinks can be served until midnight, will go before Sefton Council’s sub committee on Tuesday (October 14).

It has been opposed by Lib Dem councillor Richard Hands, who lives opposite, while Merseyside Police will accept the issue of a license provided the area is covered by CCTV and no open vessels or bottles are taken beyond it.

Cllr Hands complained of customers not leaving until the early hours and said: “It is actually quite scary to some residents, as they feel threatened by the rowdy and noisy behaviour that emits from this bar.”

Mr Turner, who previously managed Bar Flava I and II, told the Visiter: “Our customers aren’t thrilled that they can’t take their drinks outside anymore, when they have been for the last four years.

“We understood there was permission and put in an application as soon as we realised.

“We’ve had no trouble outside and have also installed an upgraded CCTV system which covers the whole area.”